Dr. Michele Mitchell has been voted to serve as Newport News Public Schools (NNPS) interim superintendent of schools by the Newport News School Board. Mitchell currently serves as executive director of student advancement for NNPS. She has served as teacher, assistant principal, middle school principal, director of special education and interim chief academic officer with Newport News Public Schools. Her tenure with NNPS has spanned nearly 28 years. Mitchell previously worked with Fairfax County Public Schools as a teacher and a crisis counselor.
Mariners’ Museum has scheduled its April programs with the disclaimer that events are subject to change. April 7, Beyond the Frame, a behind-the-scenes look of the Museum’s world-class art collection with Kyra Duffley, digital content specialist; April 9, Friendly Hours (in-person program); April 11, Blood Drive, hosted by The Mariners’ Museum and Park in partnership with American Red Cross; and April 20, Evening Lecture featuring Empire of Ice and Stone: The Disastrous and Heroic Voyage of the Karluk with Buddy Levy, best selling author. For times, registration and fees, visit www.MarinersMuseum.org or the live programming webpage.
Christopher Newport University’s 41st Annual Writers Conference is scheduled for Saturday, May 6, at the Freeman Center. Discounts are available for military, age 60 and older, LifeLong Learning Society members, full-time students, CNU faculty and staff. There is no charge for CNU students. To register, go to cnu.edu/writers.
Beecroft & Bull, a men’s retail clothing business, has moved its corporate headquarters to 11830 Canon Boulevard. The company, founded in Newport News in1958 by Moss and Frances Beecroft, has relocated its headquarters to the Oyster Point corridor, providing added space for staff and greater accessibility to I-64. The retail business has stores in Virginia Beach and Richmond. Zack Wittkamp is general manager.
UBS Wealth Management USA’s Norfolk office has been selected one of three advisor teams to be named to the 2023 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams. The Forbes rating is compiled by SHOOK Research and awarded annually in January, based on information from a 12-month period. Norfolk’s Thompson, Singor & Cimmino team is led by Eric Thompson, financial advisor and supported by Scott Singor and Marc Cimmino, financial advisors. Thompson manages assets for corporations, endowments, foundations, pensions and high-net-worth individuals. He is a corporate vice president, a certified portfolio manager and a wealth advisor. Singor spends most of his time working with multi-generational families, business owners and senior executives, including medical doctors. Cimmino’s primary responsibility includes designing and managing his client’s portfolios with individual securities, options, mutual funds, ETFs and separately managed accounts.
Top February agents for CENTURY 21 Nachman Realty’s Peninsula office were Patrizia Ridout, top listing agent; Lisa Seay, top selling agent; and Kimi Dornan, top closing and producing agent.
Peninsula Sports Club (PSC) at its January Milestone Night presented Christopher Newport University (CNU) with a $1,000 donation to the Vic Zodda Batting Facility. Pictured left to right are Kyle McMullin, CNU athletic director; Dale Goodman, PSC first vice president; John Harvell, CNU baseball head coach; and Ray Smith, PSC director. Vic Zodda was PSC president in 1954.
Liz Moore’s annual Cupcake Wars fundraiser in February raised close to $21,000 in three hours, a new company record. The event was held at Liz Moore offices located in Newport News, Williamsburg, Richmond, and Kilmarnock, with 5,500 cupcakes baked, donated and sold by clients, friends and members of the communities. Proceeds from the event were donated to the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters, Beacon Tree Foundation and RAL Art Center’s smART Program for Young Artists.
Penn State alumni and friends from the Peninsula and Southside sorted and bagged grapefruit at Virginia Peninsula Foodbank as part of their commitment to volunteering in the community. The Foodbank’s mission is to help provide healthy food to those struggling with food insecurity. The alumni bagged 4,480 pounds or 112 cases of grapefruit to be distributed at the Foodbank’s monthly drive through mobile pantries.
The Newport News Public Works Department has received full accreditation by the American Public Works Association (APWA) for voluntarily complying with the recommended practices outlined in the Public Works Management Practices Manual. This is the fifth time the Public Works Department has been re-accredited since its initial accreditation in 2002. APWA’s accreditation process involves a thorough internal review of an agency, followed by an onsite or virtual accreditation visit where a team of reviewers examines documentation, processes and procedures. The purpose of accreditation is to promote excellence in the operation and management of a public works agency, its programs and its employees.
The Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation awarded in February a total of $525,000 in grants to 35 nonprofits serving the citizens of Gloucester County, Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson and York County. The list of grantees can be viewed on the website at
www.bfranfound.org. The Foundation is also making available to Peninsula nonprofits $30,000 for Ongoing Education and $20,000 in Set-Aside Funds (money available to cover unbudgeted emergencies). Because of the valuable, diversified professional assistance provided to nonprofit executive directors and staff through Catchafire, the board of directors budgeted $50,000 to continue providing Catchafire. A decision was also made to budget $100,000 to assist nonprofits participating in Entrepreneurial Thinking classes with startup funds.
